Gamma Spectroscopy

Software Solutions

Version 3.2

ISOCS - LabSOCS
Version 4.2

Cascade
Summing
Correction

Monica Gattinoni

Summing Effects Definition

Random Summing
loss of observable peak area as a function increasing count rate
independent of energy, sample-to-detector distance, number of
nuclides in the sample
correctable with the use of a pulser or a stationary reference
source
Cascade Summing (True Coincidence Summing)
loss or gain of observable peak area as a function of nuclide
decay scheme and geometry
independent of count rate
different effect for different gamma energies of even the same
nuclide

 Example of coincidence
summing effect for some
of the Eu-152 gamma
lines as a function of
sample - detector distance
using a small 22% relative
efficiency detector. Note
the almost 50% loss of
area for peak 244 keV at
close distances.

Ratio of Observed vs. Correct Peak Area

Distance Result, 22% Detector

1.5

244 keV
1085 keV
1112 keV

0.5

10

15

Source - Detector Distance (cm)

Simple Coincidence Theory

With no coincidence, the rate of pulses for peak

1 is n = Ap11
where A = activity, p1 = emission probability of
1, and 1 = peak efficiency at E1
With coincidence, the rate of pulses in peak 1 is
n* = Ap11-Ap11t2
where t2 is the probability of observing a count
due to 2 emitted at energy E2 anywhere in the
spectrum, i.e. the total efficiency at energy E2.
The correction is C = n/n* = 1/(1-t2)
Need to calibrate for total efficiency, or a
combination of peak efficiency and peak-to-total
efficiency, which can be used to calculate the
total efficiency.

Co-60

1
2
Ni-60

Total efficiency vs. Peak efficiency

Total efficiency: ratio of all
counts in the spectrum to
the gamma rays emitted
by the source
Peak efficiency: ratio of all
counts in the photopeak
(at the emission energy) to
the gamma rays emitted
by the source.
P/T ratio is the Peak
Efficiency divided by the
Total Efficiency.

1,000

Peak efficiency
500
300

Total efficiency

200
100
50
30
20

100

200

300

400

500

600

Peak-to-Total Calibration
The inherent P/T-ratio
for all practical purposes, does not depend on
the source-to-detector distance
it has been shown that for HPGe detectors up
to about 80% relative efficiency the use of the
intrinsic P/T-calibration during the integration
of the coincidence correction factor produces
sufficiently accurate results.

P/T ratio is essentially independent of sample

position relative to the detector
2
Mapping of P/T-ratio around detector
(no separation)

-0.8

Model: Constant
Chi^2 = 0.00103
a -1.224

-1.0
-1.2

-1.4

ln(P/T)

-1.6
-1.8

6
7

Zn
Mn

Model: Constant
Chi^2 = 0.00303
a -1.614

-2.0
-2.2
1

Position of point around end cup

Empirical Peak-to-Total Curve

-0,2
-0,4
-0,6

P/T Ratio (Ln)

-0,8
-1,0
-1,2
-1,4
-1,6
-1,8

20% Canberra, 1997

18% ORTEC, 1995
20% Canberra, 2000

-2,0
100

1000

Energy, keV

Cascade Summing effects

Efficiency calibration is also

effected

Br-82, Sand Matrix, 15% detector

Ratio to Correct Activity

1.15
Corrected Activity

1.1

Uncorrected Activity
1.05
1
0.95
0.9
0.85
0

500

1000
Energy (keV)

1500

2000

Coincidence Correction for

Voluminous Sources
The inherent P/T-ratio is a constant value
(geometry independent):
Peak Efficiency (E)
= Constant (E)
Total Efficiency (E)

But our sample has a certain geometry, so the

peak efficiency is different
We use LABSOCS to calculate for us the
PEAK EFFICIENCY for the used geometry
Based on the above formula, the
TOTAL efficiency can next be
calculated as follows:
Peak Efficiency (E)
= Total Efficiency (E)
Constant (E)

Coincidence Correction for

Voluminous Sources
divide source into 2n voxels
place point source into each voxel in
sample
random location
container
compute efficiency at that point in space
divide by inherent P/T ratio
calculate the coincidence correction
factor
do this for all voxels and totalize
repeat with 2n+1 voxels
continue doubling until no further
change in coincidence correction factor
repeat for all energies and sources

source volume

point sources

generic attenuators 1 & 2

source attenuation
correction pathway
collimator attenuation
correction pathways
collimator
detector

Conclusion
Approximate detector characterization is acceptable to
use for cascade summing corrections when the detector
specific characterization is not available, at least above
about 120 keV.
Genie 2000 (S501C) will be shipped with a selected range
of detector characterizations, enabling the effective
Coincidence Summing Correction for the vast majority of
cases.

Cascade Summing Correction

P/T
Calibration

Geometry
Description

NID Results

Cascade
Summing
Correction

Corrected
NID
Results

P/T (Peak to Total) Calibration

241Am
109Cd

P/T calibration curve

54Mn

137Cs

113Sn
65Zn

P/T (Peak to Total) Calibration

Genie 2000
Pre loaded P/T calibrations per detector
type.
Either do a detector specific P/T calibration
Or use one of the pre-loaded files

Geometry Description

Geometry
Composer

Geometry
Description
(*.GEO)

Geometry Composer

Geometry Composer

Cascade Summing Correction

1. Perform P/T Calibration (only once for each
detector) or use a pre-loaded one.
2. Define counting geometry and select similar
detector from supplied LabSOCS templates
3. Perform Cascade Summing Correction
during NID

Cascade Summing Correction

Nuclide
Name

Id
Confidence

Energy
(keV)

Yield

Activity

(%)

(Bq /Filt)

Activity
Uncertainty

Coinc
Corr

K-40

0.946

1460.81*

10.67

1.037731E+00

6.206464E-01 miss

Co-60

0.947

1173.22*

100.00

9.617665E+00

3.544436E-01 0.949

1332.49*

100.00

9.375374E+00

3.637913E-01 0.946

96.73*

3.41

1.564261E+01

1.424260E+00 free

121.11*

16.70

1.444366E+01

7.741458E-01 0.909

136.00*

59.20

1.326770E+01

7.399303E-01 0.907

198.60*

1.45

1.772982E+01

3.722104E+00 0.869

264.65*

59.80

1.353332E+01

6.656023E-01 0.901

279.53*

25.20

1.414516E+01

7.395598E-01 0.930

Se-75

0.982

303.91

1.32

400.65*

11.40

2.288417E+01

1.124830E+00 1.531

1.820692E+03

5.812067E+01 miss

Kr-85

0.972

513.99*

0.43

Ba-133

0.949

79.62

2.55

81.00*

33.00

5.994030E+00

5.042487E-01 0.912

276.40*

6.90

5.584701E+00

6.266892E-01 0.931

302.84*

17.80

6.196358E+00

5.741855E-01 0.962

356.01*

60.00

5.427056E+00

3.817154E-01 0.966

free = No coincidence correction required.

miss = Nuclide energy was not found in the coincidence library.

Distance Effect
To correct/avoid for coincidence summing you could
move the sample further away from the detector.
If you move a 5 cm diameter x 1 cm high disk source
from being on the end cap to 15 cm away to
eliminate true coincidence effects the MDA will
increase by a factor 22.
To reach the same MDA you are able to achieve at
the end cap you must count the sample at 15 cm for
500 times longer!

Real examples, pointsource

XTRa, GX4018, Pointsource
Pointsource at contact
Co-60: 21% correction

Pointsource at 2 cm
Co-60: 8% correction

Pointsource at 5 cm
Co-60: 3% correction

Real examples, filter paper

XTRa, GX4018, filter paper
Filter at contact
Co-60: 17,5% correction

Filter at 2 cm
Co-60: 7% correction

Filter at 5 cm
Co-60: 3% correction

Real examples, Beaker

XTRa, GX4018, Beaker
Beaker at contact
Co-60: 7,5% correction

Beaker at 2 cm
Co-60: 3,5% correction

Beaker at 5 cm
Co-60: 1,85% correction

Overview
XTRa, GX4018, b01166, Co-60, % loss

0 cm
2 cm
5 cm

Pointsource
21
8
3

Filter
17,5
7
3

Beaker
7,5
3,5
1,85

NEW Cascade Summing v3.2

Total efficiency automatically calculated

Now TE can be calculated

internally [P/T method still
retained].
Using a characterized
detector the Peak-to-Total
calibration is no longer
needed

Total Efficiency algorithms

include corrections for buildup.
Calibration sources are no
longer required in order to
take advantage of the
Genie2Ks cascade summing
corrections.
CSC results are better

NEW Cascade Summing v3.2

Total efficiency automatically calculated

NEW Cascade Summing v3.2

Correcting for gamma-gamma, X rayand positron annihilation-gamma
summing effects
Expansion of the library to include 200
nuclides (over 2050 lines).

NEW Cascade Summing v3.2

Nuclear Data Automatically
extracted from ENSDF

Measured Activity of a filter paper

on the detector endcap
without and with Canberra CSC

Cascade Summing Correction

with Characterized Detector

Other LabSOCS Benefits

When calibration source is

different density then sample

Sample is different Z than standard

3D Geometry Composer

LabSOCS and Traditional Efficiency

Calibration agreement

Custom General Purpose Beaker Editor

Lab-ISOCS IUE for automated

Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses

Lab-ISOCS IUE for automated

Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses

ISOCS
In Situ Object Counting System

ISOCS Application Example

Geometry Composer :
Characterized detector
User-selected collimator
H-Beam with external
contamination